Stock this List of Pantry Essentials and Never Be Far from a Delicious Meal

March 1, 2013By Jess

March is here! And you know what that means? It’s time for another #CookMoreIn2013 tip from us. March’s tip is going to address a question we get from so many readers: “What should I stock in my pantry?” The right answers to this question will enable you to always have a meal on hand.

I compare putting together an optimal pantry with putting together an optimal wardrobe. Similar problems exist in these two parts of the home. These areas are often cluttered, filled with disparate items that often don’t go with one another, and made up of items that have been used (or worn) just once or never at all. I can’t help you with your wardrobe, but I certainly can help you, “Make it work,” in your pantry.

Use the graphic below as a guide to our list of pantry essentials. And because I think this is such an important topic, I’ve put together an entire multi-part video series where I invite you into my kitchen. I’ll walk you through my pantry section by section so you can see what’s inside and more importantly, why it’s there. Since there is so much information, we’ll release these videos every few days. Today, we’re introducing the series in this video and then showing you our grains, nuts, and pasta cupboard. There’s also more on those items below. Ready to come on in?

Grains

What to buy: Keep a mix of quicker cooking grains (like quinoa and white rice) and whole grains (like barley, farro, and brown rice) so you have options for every night. While not a grain, dried lentils also cook really quickly when soaked the night before